Another year of jam sessions done and dusted – and there is little truth to the rumour that Captain Chaos is now suffering from saxophone withdrawal symptoms. The never -ending flow of musical surprises ended with a Gala session at the Grand Hotel. Risa sang a fine set, omitting Sukiyaki for the first time in her life, and then a gathering of jammers who had performed there over the year (aka the usual suspects) got up and boogied into the night, in front of a mildly startled crowd of hotel guests, aunts, uncles, friends, four tooled up policemen, and an exhausted hotel crew whose only wish was to set up the breakfast tables and go home. Being a magnanimous lot we granted their wish, eventually.

I was talking to Marg from the Altona the other day. She was sucking on the dregs of a particularly long session at the Strangled Ferret at the time, and offered her opinion as to the jammers highlights of the year. She nominated Glen’s fat chips, but after these were ruled out as more of a lifestyle choice than a musical highlight, she declared that there were absolutely none, staggered out into the dusty sunlight of Altona Refinery Mews and has not been seen since. The front door on the Strangled Ferret will be rehung any day now…

And what, you may ask, of Hortense? You probably wouldn’t, but I am going to tell you anyway. The poor dear had high hopes of a late December container ship arrival, but as the ship’s crew landed, they spotted Marg striding down the dock in a determined manner, turned tail and ran for their lives, having decided on the spot to apply for refugee status in Sri Lanka instead. Poor Hortense, her hopes of a New Years Eve to remember thus cruelly dashed, has retired to the country and taken up embroidery and cat breeding. It won’t last, it never does with Miss H…

But I digress… Jam Sessions, that was it. It all starts again on Sunday 20nd January at Chateau Il Duce, Gold Street Collingwood, where, by all accounts (well, one actually) young Glen is tearing his hair out in anticipation of your return.

What will 2013 bring?

This could be the year that Captain Chaos says, enough, let’s stop and have a rest.. or Mr T actually sits out for a tune. Or we collectively forget to do Autumn Leaves, or Summertime, or both. Or someone asks Danilo to play a little louder. Or Gentleman John C plays a bum note. Or I don’t. Or someone reads a chart upside down, and it actually does make a difference. Or the Collingwood Male Voice Choir in the public bar ask for another few choruses of Caravan, on the grounds it helps them concentrate on the Eight Ball. For these, or any other eventualities, you will need to attend….

Meanwhile, back at the posh end of Town, the Grand Hotel sessions re-start on January 18th, with Ruby Rogers singing up a storm, and the soothing dulcet tones of Miss Kay to follow on the Saturday night. Rather looking forward to it…

The MJC has planned an impressively ambitious 30th Anniversary Project to celebrate this occasion on the Australia Day long weekend. Therefore, we were disappointed that the Australia Council did not increase our funding for 2013 to support this Project (it remains at $50,000). However, on December 14, the MJC was notified by Arts Victoria that its second funding application (in the Arts Development category) was also unsuccessful (following the earlier rejection of its Annual Operations application).

Therefore when the MJC commences its 2013 Program on January 13, it will have no State funding support at all. In 2012 we received $40,000 in the Annual Operations category, while in Sydney, S.I.M.A. received $90,000 in State support for its core of two-weekend performances per week, and the Jazzgroove Association $40,000 for its one weekly performance (levels which were maintained for 2013). Arts Victoria produced a similar decision for our 2009 program, but some State funding ($17,500) was eventually secured for the last six months of the year after a time-consuming protest campaign was mounted. . . . keep reading

Share this:

Like this:

You may have noticed a great many posts coming from me recently regarding a project I’m involved with, Neon Bogart. I’m very excited about this future noir project, not just as a musical endeavour, but as part of a larger artistic sphere, where Jennifer Kingwell and I are collaborating with different artists and designers to create an immersive future world, both as part of our stage show, and also things such as a graphic novella, accessories, and artefacts from the future.

We’re crowdfunding the EP and also our launch in Adelaide Fringe through the Australian site Pozible. I would really appreciate it if you could mention it in the next jammers enews. To reach our funding goal we need to get the word out to as many people in as many different circles as possible. With 9 days to go to reach our target, we’re working very hard to get there in time!

Share this:

Like this:

We are kicking off the new year at Jazz on Main with my band , Jan Blakes ‘BODY and SOUL’ on 1st February

With a selection of gorgeous Jazz Ballads that I adore singing, swinging uptempo standards, lovely Latin tunes from Antonio Carlos Jobim and other masters as well as some moody Blues, I am sure you will love our repertoire and the standard of musicianship from these great musos!

For a little taste of our music ,GOOGLE Youtube…Jan Blake’s Body and Soul.Jazz for some recent clips.…………Look out for us at The Grampians Jazz Festival …Friday 8th and Saturday 9th Feb at 8.45pm Event Hire Marquee,

…for those who are going!

I have an awesome year planned for us. Due to public demand we have some bands returning, as well as some new exciting acts booked. Don’t miss Jazz on Main this year.!

JAZZ on MAIN at the Upper Room

1st Floor, 106 Main St, Lilydale (opp station, parking in service lane out front, please dont park in front of Icecreamery)1st FRIDAY of the month ( except for June) ….new date tba due to Merimbula Jazz Festival falling the same weekend

Blog Stats

I'm taking a break this weekend. But I wouldn't leave you hanging. Here's a fascinating documentary on Art Pepper—Notes From a Jazz Survivor. The film provides a candid view of the alto saxophonist's struggles to keep his head above water and the role his wife, Laurie Pepper, played in giving him a reason to straighten up and fly right... […]

Well, it's Friday once again. A long week. So let's tilt our seats back, put up our feet and jet down to Rio. Here are four fab videos of bossa nova founders that I found surfing around on YouTube yesterday: Here's Luiz Bonfa playing his Batucada, Tenderly, Manhã de Carnaval and Menina Flor... Here's João Gilberto playing his Desafinado.. […]

Stax Records was the South's answer to Motown and Atlantic, and the African-American response to the British Invasion and folk-rock. Founded in Memphis in 1957 by Jim Stewart and his sister, Estelle Axton, the company began as Satellite Records but changed its name in 1961. Jim and Estelle took the first two letters of their last names and combined them […]